White Veil

"You weren't lying."

"Hm?"

"I felt everything. The spiritual connection...It was all true."

"I wouldn't lie about something like that. For the first time in a long time, I have a reason to try to make something of my life. You helped me become stronger than I ever could have been on my own."

"I feel the same way. I thought I'd just do enough to get me by and live a quiet existence until the day I stopped breathing, but there's so much more life has to offer. I'm only just now noticing it."

"The world can be a scary place sometimes. That's why we have to keep moving forward."

"Yeah..."

"Let's take the long way back today."

Carolyn buried her snout in Spike's chest. He held her ever closer to him.

Spike and Carolyn skated side by side through each town leading back to Twilight's house. It was like a scene from a movie. At one point, either as an act of affection, playful banter, or both, Spike twirled her around him and lifted her into his arms. The unorthodox blend of traditional dance and contemporary recreation could have caused stars to bow, falling from the sky from the beauty of it all.

"Did you guys have fun," Twilight asked with a smirk on her face when they entered the residence.

"You could say that," Spike remarked, "We learned a lot."

"Oooh. Sounds juicy."

"I just came to pick up something."

"Where are you going?"

"Rarity's. I have a favor to ask her."

"How long's it been since you last saw her?"

"Since I gave her that book back."

"Has it really been that long already?"

"Looks like it."

"Have you met her yet," the Alicorn asked Carolyn.

"Not yet."

"Spike had a bit of a thing for her back in the day."

"Really? What happened?"

"I...Actually, I don't know."

"We were never really on the same wavelength," the dragon admitted, "Our mental and emotional states were too different. It wasn't anyone's fault. That's just how things go sometimes. In some ways, I'm grateful she wasn't like me."

"Some things are for the best."

"I owe her and Rainbow Dash more than they'll probably ever know. Without them..."

Spike turned to face Carolyn.

"I wouldn't have you..."

"Rainbow Dash?"

"It's a long story. I'll tell you later."

Spike went up to his room. He opened his closet and took out a long, black duster coat. He put it on and went back downstairs.

"We'll be back soon."

"I'll be here, pondering everything I thought I knew about the world."

"Rainbow has a habit of getting into your head, doesn't she?"

"I guess so."

"Spike, darling! It's been far too long, and dare I say, you look as dashing as ever."

"Hey, Rarity."

"And you must be Carolyn!"

"Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure's all mine! I must say, I was quite curious to see what creature would be the one to capture Spikey-Wikey's heart in my place."

"I was wondering if you could come up with a few t-shirt ideas based on this."

Spike showed the fashionista his phone screen.

"'Hopesfall'?"

"It's the art from their second album The Satellite Years. I guess if you want to categorize it, it could be considered cosmic fantasy."

"This is outside my normal area of expertise, but I think I could whip something up."

"Thanks. I'll send the photo as a reference."

"Excellent."

"By the way, have you seen Rainbow Dash around lately?"

"Just yesterday, as a matter of fact."

Rarity sighed.

"She tore her uniform yet again. One of these days, I'm going to run out of sewing needles permanently because of her antics."

"When you see her again, tell her I said hey."

"I shall."

Rarity got to work immediately. Curious about the nature of the design, she pulled up the album to hear for herself. While she was usually a classical kind of gal, she would occasionally dabble outside her genre of choice. She paid close attention to the opening instrumental, Andromeda. She immediately recognized the name as belonging to the milky way's sister galaxy. The melodies overcame her like an ocean wave.

"Perhaps I've been overlooking rock much too long. How could something with so much grain be so masterfully crafted? I could very well see myself being lulled to sleep. Curious indeed..."

When Spike and Carolyn returned to Twilight's that day, they relaxed and unwound themselves in Spike's room. Carolyn played video games on the dragon's console. Meanwhile, Spike was scribbling notes down in his journal. Rarity's intervention several months earlier and Carolyn coming into the picture were operating the gears of his mind. An idea was beginning to form.

"An angel soaring down from space...Wonder...Kindness...Adventure...Love...Within..."